Palm Beach Chic

We recently discovered Danielle and Beth’s, Palm Beach Lately, a blog and beautifully curated Instagram that immediately transfers you into a world of lush green grass, turquoise waters and pink, a lot of pink! Having read Palm Beach Chic, a book written by long-time Palm Beach resident Jennifer Ash Ruddick, (and also being inspired by London’s unusually warm February weather!), we decided write up a Palm Beach style guide.

Very much aligned with the themes explored in Ruddick’s book, Palm Beach can be manifested in any and every home, including cozy cottages nestled amid tropical foliage, an exotic Moorish casbah, postmodern villas, a sprawling ranch or Mad Men-era vintage condos!

Palm Beach itself is characterised by gorgeous sunny weather, impressive real estate and an iconic, bold, preppy style. It is no surprise that the Fashion Director of Escada once said, “Palm Beach is the perfect runway for bold prints and succulent colors,” and quite simply, the word succulent translates into a vision of lush, green grass, warm sunshine and endless blue water. Much of the Palm Beach aesthetic revolves around the concept of bringing the outdoors in — and this can be done not only through colour and texture, but motifs and the correct use of lighting.

To achieve this distinctively Floridian aesthetic and brighten up your home — (and yes, any home!) — our guide provides some advice on colours, patterns and positioning for this iconic interior.

1. WHITE = FOUNDATION

Despite the ample use of colour used in Palm Beach homes, fashion and its overall lifestyle, these colours would be nothing without the blank canvas which they sit upon. Before incorporating colour, make sure you have a base foundation of white and cream to enable your colour choice to really pop! Consider your sofa, carpet, armchairs and tables for the white foundation.

A photograph from the book Palm Beach Chic where even the Mediterranean architecture has a crisp, white foundation which is reflected in the furniture.

2. BOLD COLOUR

Personally, when I think of bold colour, it reminds me of when I was first introduced to Lily Pulitzer as a young girl. I remember being completely mesmerised by her use of fearless, bold colour and fun, swirling patterns. Colours such as turquoise blue, lime green, lemon yellow, coral and flamingo pink are perfect starting points when considering your colour palette as they reflect the nature, warmth and atmosphere in Florida. Better yet, you can choose any two of these colours, combine them against your neutral-coloured foundation and you’re nearly on your way!

Some of Lily Pulitzer’s changing rooms in store via Philadelphia Magazine exhibition the strong use of bright colour and bold patterns

Palm House at Kew Gardens Limited Edition Print

3. MOTIFS, MOTIFS, MOTIFS!

Motifs are integral in defining an interior style and go hand-in-hand with your colour scheme. For example, we all know that lobsters, navy blue / red, striped patterns and the material rope are all conducive to an East Coast, Hamptons, seaside style. When it comes to Palm Beach, exotic motifs are key! Think of flamingos, coral, shells, palm trees and banana leaves are frequently seen. These motifs don’t need to merely be Objects d’Art, but can also be reflected in textiles such as fabrics or wallpapers which will create a more significant visual reveal!

Our beautiful Palm Beach Medium Lamp has a Banana Leaf repeat pattern which evokes the green foliage seen in Florida. Opt for a large or medium base, chrome or brass fittings, a cream or white shade, either pleated or straight!

Embellished with pink flamingos on a white ground, this lamp is the ultimate girl’s choice.

A photo from the book Palm Beach Chic with fun, characterised parrot wallpaper

4. BAMBOO, RATTAN OR WICKER

You will not see a Palm Beach room without bamboo, wicker or rattan within the furniture design or manufacture. This basically means that bamboo might not be the physical material, but the furniture could be designed and shaped in imitation bamboo! Some might even lacquer bamboo in a bright colour such as lime green or turquoise! But, it is a Palm Beach Law!

Alternatively, you could opt in for some textiles which incorporate bamboo in their overall design, such as the Palms Regency Wallpaper / Fabric, which is a mix of old Hollywood glamour and lush palm beach or The Bamboo Fabric/ Wallpaper ! Simply select your favourite colourway and reserve a place for it, either a powder room, for a headboard or to upholster an armchair, and all of a sudden, you have a statement piece!

Nicky Hilton’s banana leaf dining room, via The Glam Pad. Notice the frame of the dining chairs is imitation bamboo and this is reflected in the chandelier.

An image from the book Palm Beach Chic with a tropical wallpaper, Chinoiserie candle holder and an old Rattan bench.

Turquoise lacquered mirror, via Chinoiserie Chic

Pink Bamboo Wallpaper. Also available in Green & Navy

5. A TOUCH OF CHINOISERIE

In many Palm Beach homes, a small touch of Chinoiserie can help amplify the overall aesthetic and add a unique touch to your home. As a finishing touch, a brightly coloured Ginger Jar, oriental vase or ornate mirror will contribute to this traditional, fun style.

Using all of our own tips above, we have curated a pink / green Living and Dining Room using the pieces available on Decor A List. What’s great about the Palm Beach aesthetic is firstly, there are not many rules and secondly, there are many exceptions! Find two vibrant colours that work well together, (green/pink, blue/orange, coral/aqua, orange/cream, aqua/white), and apply our suggestions above!

About Author

Catherine Cornelissen

Related posts

The punchy, colourful and unique Ikat pattern (pronounced “e-kaht”) is one that injects energy and life into any space! It is one of our personal favourites as it can bring a particular pizzazz to your living room in the form of Ikat cushions, your bedroom curtains or even to spruce…

Unrestrained brushstrokes bring casual elegance to this classic double gourd ceramic lamp. Generously sized, The Navy Brushstroke Lamp is perfect for a desk in a home office, a hallway console table or side table in a living room. Due to its fairly neutral colour scheme and unique design, it is…

When you work from home, it is important to differentiate between your home space and your working space. The easiest way to do this is to make sure that you have a designated office to work in, away from the distractions of the rest of the house. Of course, not everyone…

From structural elements and exposed, raw finishes to industrial inspired furniture and eclectic lighting, there’s no doubt that the Rustic Industrial aesthetic has taken the interior design world by storm. It’s a style that will always be in demand since it echoes a design concept that is familiar to most,…

Happy New Year! We hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a brand new year! I do not think that nearly enough people realise how important home design is. When you are not in the office, at the gym or seeing friends,…

14 Comments

Catherine Cornelissen

February 25, 2019 - 12:10 pm

Thank you for your comment Nicolette! I think it leans more towards Florida’s Palm Beach where many of these colours are noticed! But I’m sure Palm Springs would lend to some of these styles too, but I think California generally is more Mediterranean inspired! It’s always great to meet another ginger jar fanatic! I think they’re wonderful — can never have ‘too many’!

Catherine Cornelissen

I love all this colour and pattern so much I’m always slightly wistful about US light – its a different temperature to us here in the UK and so sharper saturated colour looks so good. They’re also no encumbered with Victorian terraces which tend to be dark either… lovely images and I’m hankering after that stool now.

Catherine Cornelissen

March 10, 2019 - 2:18 pm

Thank you Mary! I quite agree, I think in certain locations such as California and Florida especially, the warm temperatures allow for brighter colours. I think here in the UK, we need to be careful to not be too overbearing if this type of colour scheme is adopted! The stool is definitely a firm favourite!

About

A List Insights is not only a blog, but a guide written by experts on everything art, interiors and events. We take you behind the scenes with our designers, discuss the latest interior trends and most importantly, are honest and upfront about our experiences.